While the neighborhood's big Beer Garden News last week was the plan by the Bullpen folks to create one at Half and M, SE, the other proposed beer garden in the area, at 8th and L, SE, is continuing to proceed through the city's bureaucracy. With its liquor license having been dealt with last month, this "Bier Garden" is now undergoing the Historic Preservation Review process, a necessary step thanks to its location within the Capitol Hill Historic District (which I'm sure Das Bullpen is thankful to be well outside of).

Original plans for a temporary structure were undoable thanks to historic district restrictions, so now the applicant, Mark Brody, and his architect have opted to go with a one-story building with a roof deck, in addition to the proposed ground-level summer garden. The look of the building (which is closer to 1 1/2 stories high) is very industrial, with large multi-paned windows and lots of "wood rainscreening" on the exterior and the roof deck. (I've asked for electronic versions of the color renderings that were shown at Tuesday night's ANC 6B meeting, but Mr. Brody is still pondering whether to pass them along.) UPDATE: Since the renderings have been submitted to the Historic Preservation Office and have been shown at a public meeting, an interested party passed them along. (UPDATE 1A: And Mr. Brody's architect has now sent it to me as well--thank you!) Here is the main image, looking at the corner of 8th and L:

The ANC's Planning and Zoning Committee had a first look at the designs on Feb. 1, and, according to the committee report, expressed a number of concerns about "the proposed materials, the open deck design, and the lack of letters of support from other establishments and or affected neighbors" as well as the "unfinished appearance" and issues with not having received details such as "views of the affected area with relationship to existing structures and plat specifications."

By the time the full commission met Tuesday night, Brody had made some changes to the initial designs, and forwarded letters of support from two neighbors on L Street as well 18 letters from Capitol Quarter residents (thanks probably to an e-mail that went to the private CQ mailing list asking for support). When asked, Brody said that Mark Batterson of the National Community Church (which is buying up the north side of this "Saints and Sinners" block to build a new office and performance space) has decided that he "will take no position" on the beer garden plans.

There ensued much discussion, with the bulk of concerns coming from Kirsten Oldenburg (in whose SMD this is) and David Garrison, who both clearly are unhappy with the design, especially the roof deck. (Perhaps Kirsten will write more about this project on her blog so I don't have to try to summarize, HINT HINT.) But other commissioners made clear their desire to get something built on this portion of Barracks Row south of the freeway to help jump-start the area.

After an initial motion to oppose the designs while the applicant and the city's Historic Preservation Review Board continue to make refinements failed 3-7, a second motion to take no position failed 4-6, followed finally by a motion that passed 7-3 to support the designs, with an accompanying letter to the Historic Preservation Office detailing the commission's concerns about safety on the roof deck, the design of the doors (too stubby, Oldenburg says), the "parapet" that is above the front door, and the design's "historic character." Commissioners Oldenburg, Garrison, and Norman Metzger were the three commissioners in opposition. The HPRB may hear this case at its Feb. 24 meeting, though that agenda has not yet been set. (Note that the Capitol Hill Restoration Society will be a source of comments about the project as well.)

Interestingly, the liquor license apparently will not cover the roof deck, so Brody will have to come back to the ANC if he intends to serve alcohol in that space. There was also mention made of wanting to have sidewalk tables during warm weather, which will require a public space permit and another trip back to the ANC (athough the bus stop right out front might make for a space issue).

There's probably more to write about this, but I'm pacing myself, since I'm guessing there will be plenty of additional chances to cover the process. And hopefully I'll get some renderings to post soon, but when the project gets onto an HPRB agenda they'll become part of the public record, so I'll definitely have them then.

There were some additional South of the Freeway tibits that came out during these discussions, but I'll save those for another post.

RT says: (2/9/11 10:35 AM)Oh god, the NIMBYS now feel empowered. How sad... How in the heck does this fall within the Capitol Hill historic district. I think Broady would have been well-served just putting a dinky 1 story building (historic-looking) and then a huge garden in behind. Then he wouldn't have to deal with their utter BS and power trips.

Why are we still so puritanical when talking about alcohol? Isn't this supposedly such a "liberal" city?

Thom says: (2/9/11 1:10 PM)@RT, take a deep breath. The NIMBY's lost by 7-3, the vote by which this ANC chose to support the conceptual drawing and send it on the HPRB. (Also, I'm not sure much is accomplished by calling critics of the bar "NIMBY's"--it implies you know their motivations, which you don't.) I would not judge the critics you label NIMBY's to have been "empowered" by this vote. The opposite: Their concerns were heard, at great length, then they lost when they asked the ANC to block or delay this proposal for a beer garden in JDLand.

We'll wait to hear what Commissioner Oldenburg, the leading critic, says about it on her blog. I bet she won't say she feels particularly empowered.

MJM says: (2/9/11 4:46 PM)Looks like something out of the old west - gonna put on my cowboy hat.

The outdoor seating/sidewalk space is gonna be tight since that is a very narrow sidewalk with the bus top and Neighborhood Walking sign (if it is ever replaced after being run over) unless they set it back.

But at min, if I lived there in those six units I would sure hope I can get some input wrt the potential noise. Everyone who will go to the beer garden won't care about the noise because it won't effect them since they won't live next door. A roof deck is very nice but noise travels....but eventually things must go on.

Ray N Rockville says: (2/9/11 9:53 PM)Is it any wonder why we aren't seeing job growth in this country. Imagine having to go through all these hoops to open a local eatery (I'm not saying the process is wrong, just looking at the process). Seems a major eatery like Clyde's, TGIFriday or Ruby Tuesday might not want to go through all this to open in this neighborhood. I don't know what the soultion would be but it sure seems like a small business has to spend alot of time and money for studies and plans, not to mention the planning meetings they must attend to do their sell job, just to open a small shop like this will be.

Mark says: (2/10/11 12:18 PM)Yea - why should any business care about anyone else? Heck, why should any neighbor care about what another neighbor thinks about his or her actions? Turn the music up to 11, keep the bars open all night, make as much noise as you want to, smoke like a chimney; because apparently some of the authors here wouldn't care if their neighors acted without any consideration for their property rights in their homes (I bet...).

Sadly some folks seem to think that the golden rule is outdated - and like all things - must give way to the almighty dollar and some warped Ayn Randian version of capitalism.

FYI - for those of you who are confused: Golden Rule = do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Front Resident says: (2/10/11 3:23 PM)The problem with the golden rule is that some are more tolerant than others; therefore, expectations are never the same from person to person.